We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ryan Christian. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ryan below.
Ryan, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I wouldn’t necessarily call it “resilience” per say, but instead, a fear of the unknown. I fear not knowing what could come about if I decide to leave this earth without having explored every opportunity at my disposal. I fear not knowing what’s on the other side of death. I fear what could happen to those I care about if I don’t decide to keep going. But within that fear, there’s also a sense of perseverance. When days are good is usually when I find myself striving to see what I could do more of to make better days. When days are bad, I strive to relieve myself of the pain at any means necessary. I refuse to believe that pain equals growth. Growth is sometimes painful, but it doesn’t always need to be.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I currently teach from kindergarten up to second grade the values of theatre and how to express oneself within that medium. But, what I really want to strive in, is musical theatre. I’ve written a musical short film that I want to extend into a feature length film that’s plot centers around my experience trying to find purpose in the entertainment business during the height of 2020 and all it had to offer in terms of not only the pandemic, but social unrest. When I’m not procrastinating on my writing, I’m an events assistant for standup comedy shows.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Empathy, intuitiveness, and adaptability. I’ve always maintained a sense of understanding how different people work in different facets, and I’ve always tried to accommodate and learn from those people, because it helps me learn about myself and what my likes/dislikes are. When it comes to intuition, I love to follow my gut. Even for something as simple as just directing myself to where I need to go usually follows with gut feelings that lead me to be correct. And of course, I can never seem to not fit in anywhere. Even when I feel, as a neurodivergent person, uncomfortable in neurotypical settings. I can always play my role well to make sure people aren’t uncomfortable with me.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
If anything, I should wonder to myself what am I not facing? I’m disabled, so it makes it harder or me to comprehend certain things and lead myself into territories that I’m otherwise unfamiliar with. Although adaptability is my strong suit, it takes me a great deal to not subject myself into isolation and play the ‘woe is me’ game. This economic system we’re living under helps not one bit, but I have a support system behind me that advocates for my wellbeing whenever I feel like I can’t speak up for myself or just don’t have the strength to.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rythekaraokeking?igsh=Y3M5aTRydHIwOW1s
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/vU1CAfw7H99PdGX9/?mibextid=qi2Omg
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-christian-2b1211158?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app
Image Credits
Rex Lott Photography
